Public Comment
Each month, the first part of at least one regularly scheduled board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment. Each speaker will receive three minutes to present comments; however, the public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board. During the public comment period, the board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with the additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people request to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner. Rules Regarding public comment are listed below and can be round in Regulation Code: 2310.
1. All speakers must have completed and submitted a Request to Speak Form at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of public comment time.
2. Speakers will be limited to three (3) minutes per person.
3. The speaker shall state his or her name and address at the beginning of their comment.
4. Any item that is excluded from the Open Meetings Act shall not be discussed during public comment. These items include:
a. Matters involving an attorney/client privilege.
b. Matters involving specific personnel or employees of the Board of Education.
c. Matters involving specific students of the school system.
5. No item which could be considered by the board of education on appeal or as a matter of discretion under N.C.G.S. 115C-45(c) shall be discussed during public comment. These items include, but are not limited to, final administrative decisions involving:
a. The discipline of specific students;
b. The terms or conditions of employment or employment status of a specific school employee.
6. All remarks shall be made to the Board as a body and not to an individual Board member.
7. All comments must be information or issues oriented and address the topic listed on the Request to Speak form. No person shall make obscene, derogatory, or slanderous remarks while addressing the Board.
8. No person shall disrupt or interfere with the procedural manner of the Board.
9. Remarks shall end when the speaker's allotted time has expired.
10. The chairperson may immediately terminate any comments which violate these rules or are otherwise considered to be inappropriate.